Kamrup (M) district administration draws roadmap for Durga Puja

GUWAHATI: The Kamrup (M) district administration, the department of health and the police administration of the city have drawn a roadmap for the celebration of Durga Puja under the COVID-19 protocol.

The Kamrup (M) the Deputy Commissioner, the Joint Director of Health, GMC Commissioner and all the DCPs (Deputy Commissioners of Police) of Guwahati met at the District Library auditorium here on Thursday. Apart from the existing COVID-19 protocol, the meeting set some rules that have to be adhered to by every Durga Puja Committee and those visiting puja pandals.

The set rules are –

(1) Every puja committee will have to seek permission for celebrating Durga Puja from their respective police stations from Friday.

(2) Puja committees can erect big temporary pandals but not on roads. The puja pandals should have footprints at metre apart from each other for the puja goers to adhered to.

(3) A day before the Sashthi and a day after the Dashami of the Durga Puja all puja committee members, including the priests, will have to undergo COVID tests and the reports of COVID negative will have to be submitted to their respective police stations.

(4) At a time not more than 30 people should be allowed to enter puja pandals.

(5) After 10 pm all puja pandals should be closed for visitors and there won't be any cultural programmes. Shops and other business establishments near puja pandals should also close their business after 10 pm.

(6) No puja pandal can send more than ten people for the immersion of idols on the Dashami day. No music and dance will be allowed during immersion processions.

(7) Restaurants won't be allowed to do business after 9 pm, and there won't be any sitting arrangements. Only take-away service is allowed.

On the lagna (auspicious moment of puja), the Deputy Commissioner made it clear that puja committees can start their pujas at the right lagna, but visitors' timing should be in accordance with the set rules. "This time around, we'll conduct the immersion in phases so as to make the puja committees to immerse idols in their nearest immersion ghats," he said, and added, "Every puja committee will have to make fire-safety arrangements. Each immersion ghat will have an NDRF team. NDRF personnel will conduct mock drills before the Dashami."

The DC further said that Dashami will be a dry day.

Traffic DCP Pranjit Bora said, "Since Guwahati is a vast city, and one rule can't serve the purpose for all areas. We're going to enforce rules on area basis. But one-rule that's common for all areas is 'no male pillion riding will be allowed'."

The Police Joint Commissioner said, "A few days back ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah made a statement regarding the Durga Puja. Taking that in view, we need to follow strict security measures. Hence, all Durga Puja committees should install CCTV cameras in their pandals."

He appealed to the OCs (officers-in-charge) of all police stations to maintain strict vigil al all puja pandals in the State.